A Dialogue on Merged Septic Tanks - The 1995 Era of Cooperative Efforts for Water

A Dialogue on Merged Septic Tanks - The 1995 Era of Cooperative Efforts for Water
In 1995, Japan had moved beyond the era of pollution and was facing a new environmental challenge: domestic wastewater. Amidst the lagging development of the sewage system and the pollution of rivers by household wastewater, the "combined treatment septic tank" emerged. This system, which can simultaneously treat both human waste and domestic wastewater, has become increasingly popular thanks to the cooperation of the national government, local governments, businesses, and citizens. In Okayama Prefecture, the Lake Kojima watershed became the first in Japan to adopt an ordinance, demonstrating a "community-wide water conservation" attitude. Fujiclean Industries of Nagoya developed a high-performance nitrogen-removing septic tank, which was regarded as a symbol of the company's technological strength and contribution to society. Meanwhile, the Japan Recycle Action Citizens Association developed its own purification system, and citizens took the lead in improving the environment
. After the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, people also became aware of the importance of decentralized infrastructure, and sought local self-reliant water management. This effort to protect the environment through collaboration among government, businesses, and citizens became the starting point for later policies for a recycling-oriented society.